Ride the Wave

Sharkwatchers:
I found a couple interesting causes set up in the interest of protecting sharks and thought I'd provide the links for those more financially free than I:
Oceana Conservation 2011
PEW Charitable Trusts
Bite-Back

Thanks for reading!

Ancient Shark Pups

Xenacanthid

The latest Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology reported the discovery this month of the existence of an ancient shark nursery in Kyrgyzstan. Egg case fragments along with several small baby teeth litter the scene, evidence of a sort of birthing ground for pregnant sharks. The presence of the teeth indicates that not only were many shark pups hatched there but that they remained in the area after birth as well.
"It allows the direct correlation between those eggs and the young and the interpretation of the area as a shark nursery," explained Jan Fischer in an interview with Discovery News.

Hybodontid

Generally, shark pups hatch into an open ocean. They do not remain with their mothers or form bonds between themselves. The sharks from which these specimens orignated are long extinct, both Hybodontids as well as Xenacanthids. However, a few adult teeth were found as well; proving there is still much to learn about our neighbors in the sea.

A Great Day for Cali Sharks

September 8, 2011 was a great day for Californian sharks!

As many shark enthusiasts will know, the practice of poaching sharks for their fins only has become a huge problem. Many cultures consider "shark fin soup" to be an extravagant delicacy, well worth the lives of millions of sharks annually. The apathetic rate at which sharks reproduce, when coupled with the ferocity of the finning business is slowly killing off these amazing creatures.

The introduction of a new bill would make it illegal for any to to possess, sell or trade the fins of a shark. If no suppressive action is taken, the bill will automatically take effect January 1, 2012.

Some of you may want to see sharks go. Unfortunately, sharks have been misrepresented for years by the media (movies such as Jaws, which I admittedly do love!) The reality is that more people are killed every year by lightning than by sharks...yet we kill 73 million of them in as much time. Most sharks are not only too small to ingest a human, they are also not particularly interested in us. We are not their natural prey and have as much to fear from them as any wild animal into whose territory we may have stumbled.
 

Assembly Bill 376: 

"This bill, except as specified, would make it unlawful for any person to possess, sell, offer for sale, trade, or distribute a shark fin, as defined. 

The bill, by creating a new crime, would impose a state-mandated local program."

All this fuss over this?

This is my 1st blog post, I hope everyone enjoys. 

Below I have included an excerpt from the bill, as well as a link to the bill in its entirety.

Thanks for reading!